Efficacy and safety of acupuncture on oligomenorrhea due to polycystic ovary syndrome: An international multicenter, pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common disorders of reproductive endocrinology affecting women of reproductive age. Our study aims to explore the feasibility of a full-scale trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PCOS. METHODS: This study is a two-armed, parallel, multi-country, multi-center, pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) for PCOS with oligomenorrhea. We will recruit 60 women aged 20 to 40 years with oligomenorrhea due to PCOS. The participants will be randomly assigned to acupuncture and control groups. The acupuncture group will undergo a total of 40 sessions for 16 weeks with usual care. The control group will be managed with usual care (regular meals, sufficient sleep, and appropriate exercise) only. The primary clinical outcome is mean change in menstrual frequency from baseline to 16 weeks and 32 weeks (follow-up) after the start of the trial. The secondary outcomes are menstrual period, levels of estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and total testosterone, LH/FSH ratio, antral follicle count and ovarian volume, body mass index, waist hip ratio, acne severity, and health-related quality of life questionnaire scores at 16 and 32 weeks after the start of the trial. DISCUSSION: This is the first protocol for multi-country, multi-center RCTs for PCOS in Korea and China. The control group in this study will be subjected to usual care (regular meals, enough sleep, and appropriate exercise). The results of this study will provide evidence for future clinical decisions and guidelines.This trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT04509817).

The comparison of fennel infusion plus dry cupping versus metformin in management of oligomenorrhoea in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomised clinical trial.

Oligomenorrhoea treatment with hormone therapy and Metformin is not usually well tolerated and is associated with a broad range of side effects. In Persian medicine, the management of oligomenorrhoea can be done with fennel and dry cupping. A clinical trial was conducted on 61 patients with oligomenorrhoea. The patients randomly received treatment for 6 months in two groups: fennel infusion plus dry cupping (Group A); versus treatment with Metformin (Group B). On the days between the two periods, the patients' BMI, pain levels and side effects were assessed. Thirty-one patients (mean age: 26.68) in Group A, and 30 patients (mean age: 28.90) in Group B were enrolled. The mean numbers of days between the two periods after 3 and 6 months in Group A was, respectively, 32.59 and 30.69, versus 40.66 and 431.22 in Group B. The mean pain severity dropped significantly in Group A. Fennel seed infusion plus a dry cupping uses a safe and effective therapeutic intervention in the management of oligomenorrhoea. IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women. Some common clinical manifestations of this syndrome include menstrual disorders such as oligomenorrhoea and amenorrhoea. The recommended therapeutic interventions include oral intervention, as well as metformin, which are associated with an increased risk of vascular thromboembolism, digestive complications such as nausea, and dizziness, and vitamin B12 deficiency. Therefore, the use of complementary medicine in controlling and treating PCOS is considered a valuable intervention in conventional medicine. In Persian traditional medicine, medicinal fennel (with the scientific name of Foeniculum Vulgare Mill) is commonly used in this regard. The practice of dry cupping during the monthly period that ends with ovulation is also recommended. What do the results of this study add? The present study concludes that fennel seed infusion plus a dry cupping therapy is effective and safe in reducing the days between two menstrual periods and manages oligomenorrhoea. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? A clinical study is suggested for assessing the effect of fennel seed infusion plus dry cupping on oligomenorrhoea, with a large sample size and a longer follow up time.

Obesity and menstrual disorders.

Obese women often present with oligomenorrhoea, amenorrhoea or irregular periods. The association between obesity and heavy menstrual bleeding is not well documented and data on its prevalence are limited. While the investigation protocols should be the same as for women of normal weight, particular focus is required to rule out endometrial hyperplasia in obese women. The treatment modalities of menstrual disorders for obese women will be, in principle, similar to those of normal weight. However, therapeutic outcomes in terms of effectiveness and adverse outcomes need special consideration when dealing with women with a high body mass index (BMI). Here, different treatment strategies are reviewed paying particular attention to the effect of weight on their efficacy and the challenges of providing each treatment option. This chapter aims to review the current literature and address areas where further evidence is needed, which will subsequently influence clinical practice.

Clinical pattern and spectrum of endometrial pathologies in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding in Pakistan: need to adopt a more conservative approach to treatment.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is one of the most common debilitating menstrual problems and has remained one of the most frequent indications for hysterectomy in developing countries. Approximately in 40% of hysterectomy specimens, no definite organic pathology could be established. The problem is common worldwide but causes may vary from one region to another. This study may help gynecologists in our population to improve their therapeutic strategies by promoting minimally invasive uterus sparing modalities such as endometrial ablation and hysteroscopic resection of early proliferative lesions. METHODS: It was a prospective, cross-sectional study conducted at Liaquat National Hospital from 15(th) January 2010 till 14(th) July 2011 over a period of 18 months. Women who underwent dilatation and curettage for endometrial sampling with complaints of AUB were included in the study and histopathologic spectrum was determined. RESULTS: Polymenorrhea was the most common presenting pattern (30%, 72/241) with reproductive age women being the most susceptible (49.3%,119/241). The commonest histopathological spectrum was normal menstrual pattern (34%, 82/241) and the commonest pathology was hormonal imbalance (27%, 65/241), followed by endometrial polyp (14%, 34/241), chronic endometritis (12%, 28/241), atrophic endometrium (6%, 15/241), endometrial hyperplasia (5%, 12/241), and endometrial carcinoma (2%, 5/241). Chronic endometritis was commonly seen in reproductive age (18%, 21/119); hormonal imbalance (45%, 35/77) and endometrial hyperplasia (6.5%, 5/77) in perimenopausal age; endometrial polyp (35.5%, 16/45) and endometrial carcinoma (9%, 4/45) in postmenopausal age. CONCLUSION: Frequency of benign endometrial pathology is quite high in AUB, 236 participants (98%, 236/241). Histopathological spectrum in patients with AUB is quite variable with respect to age. The most common pattern of AUB was polymenorrhea. The most common pathology was hormonal imbalance. It is suggested that age was associated with more progressive lesions found in peri and postmenopausal age group such as endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma. Yet endometrial polyp was the most common pathology found in postmenopausal women. Therefore, the management strategy should be individualized, as in most cases a restrictive approach is appropriate in order to avoid unnecessary hysterectomies.

Management of anovulatory infertility.

Anovulatory subfertility is a heterogeneous condition with various underlying causes, which should be identified with appropriate history taking, physical examination and relevant investigations. Optimisation of body weight is essential in either underweight, overweight or obese individuals. Women with hypogonadotrophic anovulation can be treated with pulsatile gonadotrophin-releasing hormone therapy or a gonadotrophin preparation containing both follicle-stimulating hormone or luteinising hormone activities. For normogonadotrophic anovulation, clomiphene citrate should be used as first-line medical treatment. Metformin co-treatment with clomiphene citrate may be considered in a subgroup of women with polycystic ovary syndrome who are obese or clomiphene-resistant. Ovulation induction with gonadotrophin or laparoscopic ovarian drilling is the next option. Dopamine agonist is indicated for anovulation as a result of hyperprolactinaemia.

Polycystic ovary syndrome: a common but often unrecognized condition.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 5% to 10% of women of reproductive age, with symptoms often presenting during adolescence and young adulthood. It is a condition characterized by (1) hyperandrogenism, (2) oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea, and (3) polycystic ovaries. This syndrome is associated with significant endocrine, metabolic, cardiovascular, reproductive, and psychiatric morbidities. Although the diagnosis of PCOS is based on the presence of at least 2 of the 3 criteria that characterize the condition, the syndrome has a broad spectrum of clinical features that may signal its presence. Evidence suggests that many women with clinical features of PCOS remain undiagnosed, placing them at an increased risk for developing complications associated with the syndrome. This review presents current information about the pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and recommended treatments for PCOS.

Restoration of menses with nonpharmacologic therapy in college athletes with menstrual disturbances: a 5-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea is common among female athletes and may be difficult to treat. Restoration of menses (ROM) is crucial to prevent deleterious effects to skeletal and reproductive health. OBJECTIVES: To determine the natural history of menstrual disturbances in female college athletes managed with nonpharmacologic therapies including increased dietary intake and/or decreased exercise expenditure and to identify factors associated with ROM. STUDY DESIGN: A 5-yr retrospective study of college athletes at a major Division I university. METHODS: 373 female athletes' charts were reviewed. For athletes with menstrual disturbances, morphometric variables were noted. Months to ROM were recorded for each athlete. RESULTS: Fifty-one female athletes (19.7%) had menstrual disturbances (14.7% oligomenorrheic, 5.0% amenorrheic). In all, 17.6% of oligo-/amenorrheic athletes experienced ROM with nonpharmacologic therapy. Mean time to ROM among all athletes with menstrual disturbances was 15.6 ± 2.6 mo. Total absolute (5.3 ± 1.1 kg vs. 1.3 ± 1.1 kg, p < .05) and percentage (9.3% ± 1.9% vs. 2.3% ± 1.9%, p < .05) weight gain and increase in body-mass index (BMI; 1.9 ± 0.4 kg/m2 vs. 0.5 ± 0.4 kg/m2, p < .05) emerged as the primary differentiating characteristics between athletes with ROM and those without ROM. Percent weight gain was identified as a significant positive predictor of ROM, OR (95% CI) = 1.25 (1.01, 1.56), p < .05. CONCLUSIONS: Nonpharmacologic intervention in college athletes with menstrual disturbances can restore regular menstrual cycles, although ROM may take more than 1 yr. Weight gain or an increase in BMI may be important predictors of ROM.

Impact of electro-acupuncture and physical exercise on hyperandrogenism and oligo/amenorrhea in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, is characterized by hyperandrogenism, oligo/amenorrhea, and polycystic ovaries. We aimed to determine whether low-frequency electro-acupuncture (EA) would decrease hyperandrogenism and improve oligo/amenorrhea more effectively than physical exercise or no intervention. We randomized 84 women with PCOS, aged 18-37 yr, to 16 wk of low-frequency EA, physical exercise, or no intervention. The primary outcome measure changes in the concentration of total testosterone (T) at week 16 determined by gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was analyzed by intention to treat. Secondary outcome measures were changes in menstrual frequency; concentrations of androgens, estrogens, androgen precursors, and glucuronidated androgen metabolites; and acne and hirsutism. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, after 16 wk of intervention, and after a 16-wk follow-up. After 16 wk of intervention, circulating T decreased by -25%, androsterone glucuronide by -30%, and androstane-3α,17ß-diol-3-glucuronide by -28% in the EA group (P = 0.038, 0.030, and 0.047, respectively vs. exercise); menstrual frequency increased to 0.69/month from 0.28 at baseline in the EA group (P = 0.018 vs. exercise). After the 16-wk follow-up, the acne score decreased by -32% in the EA group (P = 0.006 vs. exercise). Both EA and exercise improved menstrual frequency and decreased the levels of several sex steroids at week 16 and at the 16-wk follow-up compared with no intervention. Low-frequency EA and physical exercise improved hyperandrogenism and menstrual frequency more effectively than no intervention in women with PCOS. Low-frequency EA was superior to physical exercise and may be useful for treating hyperandrogenism and oligo/amenorrhea.

Low-frequency electroacupuncture and physical exercise decrease high muscle sympathetic nerve activity in polycystic ovary syndrome.

We have recently shown that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with high muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). Animal studies support the concept that low-frequency electroacupuncture (EA) and physical exercise, via stimulation of ergoreceptors and somatic afferents in the muscles, may modulate the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of these interventions on sympathetic nerve activity in women with PCOS. In a randomized controlled trial, 20 women with PCOS were randomly allocated to one of three groups: low-frequency EA (n = 9), physical exercise (n = 5), or untreated control (n = 6) during 16 wk. Direct recordings of multiunit efferent postganglionic MSNA in a muscle fascicle of the peroneal nerve before and following 16 wk of treatment. Biometric, hemodynamic, endocrine, and metabolic parameters were measured. Low-frequency EA (P = 0.036) and physical exercise (P = 0.030) decreased MSNA burst frequency compared with the untreated control group. The low-frequency EA group reduced sagittal diameter (P = 0.001), while the physical exercise group reduced body weight (P = 0.004) and body mass index (P = 0.004) compared with the untreated control group. Sagittal diameter was related to MSNA burst frequency (Rs = 0.58, P < 0.005) in the EA group. No correlation was found for body mass index and MSNA in the exercise group. There were no differences between the groups in hemodynamic, endocrine, and metabolic variables. For the first time we demonstrate that low-frequency EA and physical exercise lowers high sympathetic nerve activity in women with PCOS. Thus, treatment with low-frequency EA or physical exercise with the aim to reduce MSNA may be of importance for women with PCOS.

Homeopathy for the treatment of menstrual irregularities: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: A preliminary study to evaluate the usefulness of homeopathic treatment in the care of menstrual irregularities. METHOD: Patients were diagnosed at the first appointment according to menstrual cycle over the past year: Amenorrhea (AM), Oligo-amenorrhea (OL-AM), OL, Taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). All patients were prescribed an individualised, global homeopathic treatment. The main outcomes were: time to resumption of periods, change of clinical diagnosis at the end of follow-up or after 2 years. The secondary outcomes were: menstrual regularity at the end of follow-up, compared to pre-treatment frequency; flow characteristics; clinical course of acute and chronic concomitant symptoms. RESULTS: 18 consecutive cases of secondary amenorrhea (SA) and oligomenorrhea (OL) met the entry criteria. 8 women had SA, 2 were on HRT, 6 had OL-AM and 2 had OL. The average duration of considered follow-up was 21 months. The average time before the reappearance of menstruation was 58 days (s.d. 20) in the 8 women with SA at the time of the first appointment, for all cases 46 days (s.d. 42). Change of clinical diagnosis: 50% of women, who were diagnosed AM, recovered their ovulatory cycle (OV), whereas 12.5% remained amenorrheic; 33.3% of patients, who were initially OL-AM, showed an OV; 100% of oligomenorrheic and HRT patients recovered an OV. The average frequency of spontaneous cycles per year changes from 4.32 (s.d. 1.97) pre-treatment to 9.6 cycles per year at the end (s.d. 2.92). Four detailed case histories are reported.

Intraovarian arterial blood flow resistance in oligomenorrheal infertile women.

PURPOSE: Intraovarian arterial blood flows before and after follicular rupture in ovulation induced cycles were examined by transvaginal color flow Doppler imaging. The changes observed in the intraovarian arterial resistance before and after ovulation in relation to the regularity of menstruation and several other parameters were analyzed. METHODS: In a prospective study, 22 patients undergoing infertility treatment in our center were recruited. Patients were divided into two subgroups, according to their menstrual regularity (regular menstrual group and oligomenorrheal group) and 42 cycles were studied. All patients received the same FSH low-dose stimulation treatment. The relationship between the post and preovulatory arterial pulsatility indexes (PI) was analyzed. Cycles that showed a decrease in their PI after ovulation of 10% or more were considered "profoundly decreased cycles." Cycles from the same patients without ovulatory stimulation (natural cycles) were used as control. RESULTS: In the regular menstrual group the rate of profoundly decreased cycles during FSH stimulation was 63.2%, which was similar to the rate observed in natural cycles. In the oligomenorrheal group the rate of profoundly decreased cycles during natural cycles was 14.3%, but in FSH ovulation induction cycles this rate was significantly increased (47.6%, p < 0.05). In addition, the pregnancy rate per cycle in the oligomenorrheal group was significantly higher than that in the regular menstrual group (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Oligomenorrheal patients presented a higher rate in the decrease of their PI values after FSH stimulation, which is essential to achieve pregnancy. This elevated rate of reduction implies that oligomenorrheal patients have increased incidence of disturbance in their ovulatory process when compared to normal cycling patients. Thus, ovulation induction with FSH, in oligomenorrheal patients resulted in a higher pregnancy rate in this group.

Menstrual disorders in adolescence: investigation and management.

Menstrual disorders in adolescence may present diagnostic and management challenges for the gynaecologist. This review will describe the common and uncommon menstrual disorders that may arise in early reproductive life, together with guidance on their investigation and management.

Self-selected women with polycystic ovary syndrome are reproductively and metabolically abnormal and undertreated.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether self-selected women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are abnormal compared with a control population. DESIGN: Case-control. SETTING: Support group meeting organized and initiated by patients. PATIENT(S): Forty-five self-selected women with PCOS and 80 control women. INTERVENTION(S): Self-selected women with PCOS at a peer support conference completed a questionnaire, had a brief physical, and gave a fasting blood sample. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Historical, biometric, and assay results. RESULT(S): Sixty percent of the women attending the conference participated in the study. Most had been diagnosed with PCOS on the basis of ovarian morphology (35%). They were more likely to be nulliparous and have a history of oligomenorrhea (96%). They were hyperandrogenemic (significantly elevated testosterone and DHEAS levels) compared with control women. Self-selected women with PCOS displayed multiple metabolic abnormalities compared with control women, including elevations in blood pressure, waist-hip ratio, fasting insulin, fasting total cholesterol, and fasting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, as well as a significant decrease in fasting glucose-insulin ratio and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. CONCLUSION(S): Self-selected women with PCOS have reproductive and metabolic abnormalities. The majority of these women received inadequate treatment despite having risk factors for endometrial cancer, diabetes, and/or heart disease. Our study also suggests that women attending or participating in a PCOS support group are willing and likely to participate in clinical studies.

[The effect of a decrease in body weight in patients with the polycystic ovary syndrome]. / Vliianie snizheniia massy tela u bol'nykh s sindromom polikistoznykh iaichnikov.

Eighty patients with the polycystic ovaries syndrome and excessive body mass were examined. In 60 patients body mass reduction resulted from diets and in 20 it occurred over the course of acupuncture. Such treatment resulted in pregnancy in 27 (33.7%) patients. Therefore, diets or acupuncture for body mass reduction are recommended for patients with polycystic ovaries and obesity as the first stage of treatment.

Replacement of frozen-thawed embryos in artificial and natural cycles: a prospective semi-randomized study.

This prospective partly-randomized study assessed the relative efficacy of two strategies of patient management for the replacement of frozen-thawed embryos. A luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist was used to induce a temporary hypogonadism in a group of patients who were then prepared for implantation by endometrial priming with hormone replacement therapy (HRT): oral oestradiol valerate and then oestradiol valerate and injections of progesterone. A second group of patients had their frozen-thawed embryos replaced during their natural cycles. Of the 84 patients treated with the LHRH regimen, 80 had embryos replaced and 16 (20%) clinical pregnancies were established. Of the 78 patients treated with natural cycles, 70 had embryos replaced and 14 (20%) achieved clinical pregnancies. There were no statistical differences between the two groups in terms of age, obstetric history, duration of infertility, number of oocytes retrieved and fertilized or the number of embryos frozen following ovarian stimulation in the embryo 'generating' cycle. In terms of pregnancy rates, both protocols were equally effective. However, the LHRH-HRT protocol was of great value in the management of oligomenorrhoeic patients and in establishing standard conditions for implantation in cyclic patients.

Evaluation and management of menstrual dysfunction in athletes.

The prevalence of menstrual dysfunction is greater among athletes than in the general population. Many factors undergo change during the course of an athletic training program and any or all of these may contribute to disturbances in menstrual cyclicity. All athletes with oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, or menarcheal delay require thorough evaluation to rule out serious pathological conditions, since the diagnosis of exercise-associated menstrual dysfunction can be made only by excluding other etiologic factors. Most athletes who have these problems should be treated to prevent undesirable sequelae.

Emergency treatment of menstrual disorders in a nonpregnant woman.

Women who present to the Emergency room with menstrual-related problems are a common occurrence. In this article, we will concern ourselves with common problems that the nonpregnant woman in the reproductive years may present to the emergency room, including symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, painful menses, or premenstrual syndrome. Although the treatment within the emergency room is temporizing in nature, to better understand these problems and their appropriate management, these areas will be discussed as to their etiology, treatment, and prognosis.